Streeting most senior Labour figure to visit Israel under Starmer

Wes Streeting is set to travel to Israel next week – becoming the most senior Labour figure to visit Israel since Keir Starmer took office.

The shadow health Secretary will take part in a biomedical conference and learn more about Israeli medical tech during visits to hospitals and startups. He will visit meet medics at Magen David Adom, Israel’s medical emergency service, as part of the five-day trip organised by Labour Friends of Israel.

LFI chair Steve McCabe, who will also join the visit, said: “Our delegation will focus on Israel’s world-leading medical technology sector. We will see first hand how Israeli innovation is revolutionising health care and learn how we can use this ground breaking tech to support our NHS. From Israeli pharmaceuticals supplying one in seven NHS prescription drugs to working together to tackle COVID, cooperation in health shows the benefit of a strong bilateral relationship between Israel and the UK. We look forward to next week’s visit further strengthening those links.”

MDA UK chief executive Daniel Burger said: “I’m delighted that the Shadow Health Secretary has chosen to visit the new Blood Centre and the National Dispatch Centre whilst learning about minority communities.”

Starmer and former shadow foreign secretary Lisa Nandy were due in Israel last year but had to postpone amid the covid pandemic.

Streeting told Jewish News: “I wanted to return to Israel to see the remarkable advances in medical technology developed here, and look at how the next Labour government can provide the NHS with the modern technology it needs to treat patients on time.

“I’m also looking forward to witnessing some of the incredible work done by Magen David Adom as well as Medical Aid for Palestinians.”